With nine games to go, the impossible is looking more and more possible for an unheralded team nearly relegated last term but goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel said nothing is done yet. If they had a remotely similar streak of winning like Tottenham’s six wins in a row, they would probably be celebrating the title already. Nobody now can say who will win the title. How else could we describe their defeat against Swansea in the mid-week round. Leicester are still on top of the table, even without having played a game, though they do face Watford later, thanks to the draw at White Hart Lane.
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The Gunners are in danger of failing dramatically and a top-four place does not look guaranteed anymore in this most remarkable of seasons where the underdogs are overachieving. It all started like Wenger planed.
While matches between the arch-rivals are always tense, highly-charged occasions, Saturday’s Premier League game has added spice because both are heavily involved in the title race and both lost ground on leaders Leicester City on Wednesday.
“My philosophy is not to see the others, it’s important what we are doing – that is important”.
“Arsenal have to win this one, but then so do Tottenham”.
If they lose tomorrow Arsenal it will surely mean the end of Arsenal’s title hopes and could mean there will be no St Totteringham’s Day celebrations (held each year to commemorate Arsenal finishing above Spurs in the league) in Islington for the first time in a generation.
Leicester were knocked out of the FA Cup by Tottenham and have only the Premier League to focus on.
In the last six White Hart Lane clashes in the London derby, Tottenham have won four, with 2-1 victories each time.
City now need to get a positive result against relegation-threatened Aston Villa at home on Saturday and, with Tottenham facing Arsenal, it could be another intriguing weekend in an unpredictable competition.
Sunderland’s DeAndre Yedlin (left) and West Ham United’s Dimitri Payet (right) battle for the ball during the Barclays Premier League match at Upton Park, London.
Cech has been ruled out of the game with a calf injury, but is certain that Ospina will let nobody down in such a crucial game.
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Arsenal are also still without long-term absentees Jack Wilshere, Santi Cazorla and Tomas Rosicky, while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain should be out for roughly eight weeks with a knee injury.
